“ A word about Derrick, because he’s shooting like an All-Star right now… ” THE journalist does not have time to ask his question when Joe Mazzulla interrupts him, being affirmative: “ Yeah, he's an All-Star. »
The Celtics coach spoke thus at the end of an authoritarian victory for his team on the Kings floor, marked by another great performance from his back, Derrick White. The starting back from Boston took advantage of the Californians' delay to come out after the screens in order to punish from afar.
Also displaying his ease of accessing the circle, the former Spurs player ended his evening with 28 points, impeccable skill (10/13 on shots, including 6/9 at 3-points), 7 assists and even 3 blocks. And the best evaluation of the protagonists in play (36).
His coach sees in his game “ freedom “, of the ” trust ” and some ” recognition from his teammates “. “ Most of the time, when we want the team to stabilize and we want to achieve good execution, we turn to Derrick White's 'pick and rolls'. Sometimes it's with Jason (Tatum), sometimes with Jaylen (Brown). Tonight it was KP (Kristaps Porzingis), to attack advantageous duels. He was great creating the game », continues the coach.
More than 20 points on average in December
With 16.5 points every night this season, at 49% success, his player is on the basis of his best career average. But the (new) bald 29-year-old is doing even harder lately. In December, he signed two 30-point outings and averaged nearly 21 points (52% including 47% from distance) and 5 assists.
“ His teammates give him confidence, he plays with a lot of confidence. And that's one of the reasons we feel so comfortable with him at point guard is because of what he can do », adds Joe Mazzulla, no doubt aware that his words have little chance of being acted upon.
Because the competition is tough on the back positions in the East (Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, etc.). Especially since Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown should receive a new invitation to the All-Star game, Kristaps Porzingis could be the third representative of the best team in the East.
For his part, Derrick White assures that he simply wants “ try to win matches. That's all I'm focusing on right now. I'm trying to keep winning and we'll see what happens. »
| Derrick White | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 17 | 8 | 48.5 | 61.5 | 70.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 3.2 |
| 2018-19 | SAN | 67 | 26 | 47.9 | 33.8 | 77.2 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 9.9 |
| 2019-20 | SAN | 68 | 25 | 45.8 | 36.6 | 85.3 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 11.3 |
| 2020-21 | SAN | 36 | 30 | 41.1 | 34.6 | 85.1 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 15.4 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 75 | 29 | 42.1 | 31.2 | 86.4 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.9 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 13.2 |
| 2021-22 * | SAN | 49 | 30 | 42.6 | 31.4 | 86.9 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 14.4 |
| 2021-22 * | BOS | 26 | 27 | 40.9 | 30.6 | 85.3 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 11.0 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 82 | 28 | 46.2 | 38.1 | 87.5 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 12.4 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 23 | 33 | 47.8 | 41.5 | 87.7 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 16.0 |
| Total | 368 | 27 | 44.9 | 35.8 | 84.8 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 12.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
